Group plans to turn Marshalltown lot into park

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Marshalltown plan to turn the site of an arson fire into a downtown park.

The Times-Republican reports (http://bit.ly/1cYlFSD ) workers will begin turning the vacant lot into a small park next spring.

Jenny Etter, director of the Marshalltown Central Business District, says the lot will be seeded with grass, and the group hopes to obtain artwork for the site.

Lew Miller, who owns a building across the street, says the change will enhance downtown. He calls it long overdue.

A vacant three-story building at the site was destroyed in a February 2012 arson fire. Andrew Burke, of Marshalltown, was convicted of arson for the downtown fire and another fire in a garage. He’s serving a 25 year prison sentence.